European Swimming Championships in Rome
Powerless Wellbrock without a medal – bronze for Matzerath
Remained in the final over 1500 meters freestyle without a medal: Florian Wellbrock. photo
© Jokleindl/dpa
The effects of the corona infection are too strong: Florian Wellbrock cannot keep up with the front runners on his special route at the European Championship. A German breaststroker celebrates a bronze medal.
Florian Wellbrock was completely exhausted after his corona infection and fifth place over the leash, Lucas Matzerath, on the other hand, celebrated his bronze coup euphorically and wanted to reward himself with a piece of cake.
On the penultimate day of the pool swimmers’ European Championship, Olympic champion Wellbrock had to accept an unusual defeat in the Roman open-air pool – but Matzerath made sure of that for the fifth precious metal on the German medal tally. “Madness,” said Matzerath enthusiastically. “The atmosphere is just great!”
“A little proud I tried”
Wellbrock thought so too. Despite his lack of a chance in the fight for the medals, he was smiling again just a few minutes after his race in the 1500 meter freestyle. “Anything could have happened today with the pre-existing condition. I didn’t want to miss the chance,” said the 24-year-old, who contracted Covid-19 in July. “I’m also a bit proud of myself that I at least tried. Others might not have come in my situation.” Of course, he was not satisfied with the result.
Wellbrock struck after 15:02.51 minutes and was almost half a minute above his German record. Wellbrock’s Ukrainian training colleague Mykhailo Romanchuk was crowned European champion in 14:36.10 minutes. Italian world champion Gregorio Paltrinieri took silver, bronze went to Damien Joly from France.
Matzerath: “A piece of cake tonight is in it”
About an hour before Wellbrock’s race, breaststroker Matzerath had achieved his greatest career success to date in the 50-meter race. Before the competition, the enthusiastic Italian fans also gave him an emotional boost. “When the Italians were called, the crowd went wild. I closed my eyes and imagined that applies to me,” said Matzerath and smiled. However, he still has to wait for a big party. “There’s a piece of cake tonight, but tomorrow is the relay again and I want to be in top form again,” he said.
“It wasn’t the highlight of the year”
The 22-year-old won his first medal at a major international championship. Wellbrock, on the other hand, is very familiar with award ceremonies. The five medals in five starts at the World Championships in June make it easier for him to get over the failed European Championship competition. “It wasn’t the highlight of the year,” he said at the EM. “That’s why it’s quite bearable.”
He usually goes into the longest pool race as one of the top favourites. This time it was different. Because of his corona infection, the open water Olympic champion was unable to train for a long time.
While his teammates Lukas Märtens and Isabel Gose won medals, Wellbrock decided not to compete in the 800 meter freestyle. Instead of being celebrated by the enthusiastic fans in the Foro Italio, he trained and took in the atmosphere on the first days of the EM as a spectator.
Wellbrock only started on the fifth day of competition. He qualified for the final in 15:06.18 minutes as the fifth fastest of the heats. At the World Cup and 2021 at the Olympic Games he had won bronze over 1500 meters. He left it open whether he would start in the open water in the sea off Lido di Ostia.
While the pool races end on August 17th, the water jumpers have only just started. Even after the second day of competition, the German team is still waiting for its first medal. Elena Wassen and Lou Massenberg took fourth place in mixed synchronized jumping from the tower out of six participating teams and were very disappointed afterwards. In the final from the one-meter board, Jette Müller from Rostock also jumped to fourth place.